Doldrums

Biking on Sauvie on Christmas Day and it's 35 degrees out.

Lolo Pass shenanigans.

What? I am perfectly comfortable like this and do not miss the sun at all.

Christmas Eve Wish List

2013

• Blanca Lake via Stevens Pass West, WA
• Colchuck Lake via Stuart Lake TH, Leavenworth, WA
• Gem Lake via Alpental with options for Snow and Source Lake, WA
• Yocum Ridge, Mount Hood, OR
• Middle Sister Summit backpack, OR
• Spray Park, Mt Rainier, WA
• Skyline Divide, Mount Baker, WA (weekend trip)
• Heliotrope Ridge, Mount Baker, WA
• Kendal Katwalk, Snoqualmie, WA
• Lyman Lakes/Spider Meadows/Phelps Basin (backpack) via Spider Gap, WA
• Indian Bar, Mt Rainier
• Mt Pilchuck, WA
• Lake Serene via Stevens Pass West, WA
• Illumination rock, Mount Hood, OR
• Robin Lakes trail, Snoq. Pass; Salmon LaSac/Teanaway, WA (backpack)
• Maple Pass Loop, North Cascades,WA (views of lake Ann)
• Goat Lake, North Cascades, WA
• Gothic Basin, North Cascades, WA
• Glacier Nat'l Park Vacation (day hikes)

Life List (in order from most to least realistic):

• Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC
• Ptarmigan Ridge, North Cascades, WA
• Wonderland Trail, Mt Rainer, WA
• JMT from Red's to Mt Whitney 
• PCT Section K, WA
• Telluride/Durango, CO and 14ers
• Chasm Lake, Longs Peak, CO
• Kootenay Rockwall Trail/Skoki Lakes/Lake O'Hara, BC
• Routeburn Trek, NZ
• Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
• Salkantay Trek, Peru
• Annapurna Circuit, Nepal
• Zermatt, Switzerland 
• Tank Lakes via Necklace Valley, WA
• Mount Hood Summit, OR 

Weekend In SF

I went to San Francisco for the weekend to take a WSET course offered through my work. I ate my weight in oysters and drank upwards of 50 wines. I know this might surprise you, but it is STILL an awesome city.

Use it Or Lose It

I have not been biking this winter, like at all. So Hagg Lake was a little bit harder on my lungs than it should've been, considering the last time I was out there, I was all "Pshaw, this is for noobs." But it was pouring rain and we still got some good exercise, so whatever.

I'm Not Afraid To Drink Fucking Merlot

On Sunday we were invited to a four-course small bite brunch at Hawk’s View Cellars. Cabernet-braised short rib and sweet potatoes, Merlot with a turkey croquette and  gravy... sigh.

Dee-lightful

Just got back from a trail run at Tamanawas Falls. The temperature was just around freezing and my footing was cautious at best. The sun was out in Hood River as I drove home and I glimpsed the stark white top of Mount Adams above the clouds. I literally did a little happy dance in my seat at the thought that I'd been up there. Life is beautiful.

What I've Been Up To

Running! I've been trail running 3 times a week on Leif Erickson with my long runs on Saturday hovering around 7 miles. I hope to work my way up to a half marathon by the spring, maybe something like the Timberline Half at Timothy Lake. Something scenic and mountainy, to keep me motivated and in my comfort zone. After that, I don't know. I want to run a marathon someday, but I have quite a roster of Washington hikes to knock out next summer. One thing at a time.What's most important is that I'm happy, and always moving forward.

Anam Cara Winemaker's Lunch

I think I could finally get used to these Oregon winters - it's just that I've been heading West instead of East when the weather turns. Private lunch through work in the winemaker's home. Just wonderful.

Winding Down

A few pics from the last couple days. Lovely Ramona Falls recliner hike with the hubs, and then two kind of crappy hikes. Here's the nice one:

The next day, I was on my way to Devil's Peak fire lookout but was thwarted by a work crew on one approach and an epically terrible road on another approach. I'll take my Subie over some shit, but only if I've made a huge effort to get there. Not for a four-mile fire lookout hike. I headed over to Timberline Lodge instead, to scout out Illumination Saddle. At this point, the lifts have long stopped running and the hike is a slog through dirt. I've gotten a little intel from other hikers who were kind enough to email some warnings about crevasses and rockfalls, so I truly didn't expect to get anywhere near the saddle, plus it was well past noon. I hiked up to the top of the ski lift and just considered myself lucky to have a mountain instead of a gym membership. But for the first time I noticed how depressingly wasted the south side of Mount Hood is. Dirt instead of meadows, equipment laying around everywhere, and shrinking glaciers. It's kind of sad.

Today I intended to drive to Alpental to hike a hopefully emptier Snow Lake/Gem Lake trail before the season closes, but at 6 a.m. I was still tired and at 8 a.m. the clouds were dishearteningly thick. So I slept in and hiked to Grassy Knoll. That was a bad idea - the road is hideous and endless, and I finally scratched up my poor, abused car. The hike is tedious and ugly, particularly in October at the end of a dry spell. Seemed like prime cougar territory, and I was completely alone. On the drive home, I consoled myself with a butterscotch milkshake in Cascade Locks, and still felt pretty darn good about my life lately. But I really am a little bored with the Gorge...I can't believe summer is ten months away.

WTA Work Party

Trail maintenance and bear sightings at Sunrise and First Burroughs with the WTA. This is one of the most incredible places I've ever been, so sure I'll throw boulders around and dig trenches on my Sunday. Mount Rainier is my boyfriend, after all. Link to volunteer opportunities here.

Eagle Creek Celebratory Hike

I made a big life decision this week, so toodling around in the Gorge while Dr B. tried out his new carbon fiber Look was just about my speed. I lapped up my newly regained freedom while meandering up Eagle Creek a bit and, oddly enough, ran into my coworker and her in-laws at the bottom of lower Punchbowl Falls canyon. I felt like an omnipresent forest gnome, or some official hiking dork representative of Oregon. As long as it's not in an office. Apparently I don't like those.

Willamette Valley Whirlwind Tour

Wine tasting day at DDO, Patton Valley, Stoller and Winderlea. That's a whole lot of pinot.